Apparatus for molding



April 1, 1930. c. D. PETTIS I APPARATUS FOR MOLDING Filed Oct. 17, 19255 Sheets-Sheet 1 g) A; a

April 1, 1930. D ,PETT.S 1,752,308

APPARATUS FOR MOLDING Filed Oct. 17, 1925 3 Shee ts-Sheet 2 April 1,1930. c. D. PETTIS APPARATUS FOR MOLDING Filed Oct. 17', 1925 5Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Apr. 1, 1930 v UNITED STATES CLIFTON D. PETTIS,F YORK, N. Y. j

arraimros r03 MOLDING Application filed October 17, 1925.

The present invention relates broadly to the art of metal working, andmore particularly as applicable to the production of metal castings inlarge quantities, the utility of the 5 invention not being limited toany particular kind or composition of casting.

In the standard foundry practice of making castings it'is customary toutilize so called sand molds. These molds are either made up and placeddirectly on the foundry floor over a comparatively large area and themolten metal carried to them, or they are secured to a flexible carrierwhich is driven to bring the molds successively to predeterminedstations. Both of these methods are open to the objection that each moldis capable of a single use only, thereby requiring a rehandling andremolding of the sand for each new casting. This necessarily increasesboth the equipment and number of men re ,uired,

and correspondingly reduces the possib e production.

With the perfection of so called repetition or permanent molds, it hasbeen possible to effect the production of castings under much morefavorable conditions, and the present invention has for one of itsobjects the mounting and operation of molds more particularly of thisgeneral type in such manner that not only is uniformity as to successivecastings insured, but that the number of castings per unit of equipmentand employee is greatly increased.

In the accompanying drawings there is shown for purposes of illustrationonly, a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it beingunderstood that the drawings do not define the limits of my invention,as changes in the construction and operation disclosed therein may bemade without departing from the spirit of the invention or scope of mybroader claims.

Inthe drawingsz' Figure 1 is a diagrammatic top plan view illustratingone form of apparatus construct ed in accordance with the presentinvention;

Figure 2 is .a perspective view on an enlarged scale illustrating moreparticularly that portion of the apparatus adapted for strengthening thetable,

Serial No. 63,032.

automatically opening the molds to permit removal of the finishedcastings;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 illustrating that portion of theapparatus for automatically closing the molds, and

' Figure 4 is a perspective View of the portion of the apparatus whicheffects cleaning of the molds during their travel.

In carrying out the present invention there may be provided an endlesscarrier preferably in the form of an annulus 2 forming a turn tableherein illustrated as carrying ten pairs of molds designatedrespectively A to J both inclusive. By arranging the molds in pairs inthe general manner indicated diagrammatically in Figure 1, the capacityof the table is increased, an operators platform is provided betweenadjacent pairs of molds, and the operation of the apparatus isfacilitated as will be hereinafter more fully apparent.

The table 2 is conveniently formed by securing substantially flat platesections to side beams 3, the inner of which has a rack 4 projectingdownwardly therefrom. This rack provides convenient means for effectingrotation of the table at the desired speed through the medium of a motor5. For and providing means for supporting the same in operativeposition, it is formed with a sub-frame 6 having mounted thereon atequidistant points a plurality of track wheels 7 traveling on a track 8.Cooperating wit-h the track wheels is a plurality of centering rollers"9engaging the outside of the track and preventing lateral movement of thetable.

While the present invention is adaptable for use with repetition moldsof any desired construction, there are shown herein molds of the generalcharacter disclosed and claimed I y rality of castings. The mold halves.are

adapted to close about core pins 15 projecting upwardly between thehalves, and adapted to receive and support either one piece or sectionalcores of the contour required for cored castings. 'It is obvious thatwhen solid castings are being formed, the core pins may be omittedentirely and the matrix sections changed in contour as required. Eachmold half may also be provided with a stop shoulder 16 adapted tocooperate in closed position with a centering stop 17 limiting themaximum closing movement of any mold half.

The closing and opening means for the molds while it may be of a widevariety of constructions, is conveniently of the type shown and claimedin my Patent No. 1,542,642,-

granted June 16, 1925. This comprises generally cams or eccentrics 18arranged in pairs, and rotatable by means of handles 19 about centerspreferably located outside of the periphery of the cams or eccentrics.By reason of such a construction, movement of the handles upwardly willgradually close the mold halves and effect substantial locking in closedposition, while movement in the opposite direction will open the molds.

I have found that very desirable results are produced in repetitionmolding where successive pours in the same mold occur at substantiallydefinite time intervals whereby successive pours are made with the moldswithin the same average temperature range. Such timing insuresuniformity as to the action of the molds on the molten metal. It is alsodesirable that the molds should be opened in general timed relation tothe pouring operation whereby successive castings are uniformly cooledand solidified, such opening of the molds breaking the contact betweenthe molds and castings and permitting re moval of the castings, thecastings being detached by and temporarily supported on the core pinsduring the mold opening operation.

The foregoing operations, as well as cleaning the molds, applying thecores when required and closing of the molds may be satisfactorilycarried out-by rotating the table at a definite predetermined speed, andthen performing successive operations on the molds as they reachdifferent stations. Accordingly, the rotation of the table is adapted tobring the pairs of molds successively to a pouring station, an openingstation, a discharge station, a cleaning station, a core applyingstation and a closing station.

At the pouring station, as indicated in Figure 1, the molds are inclosed position adapted to receive molten metal, the pairs of molds Aand B being shown at this station. Located conveniently to this stationis a source of molten metal, not shown, whereby m operator with apouring ladle may step onto the table between the pairs of molds andpour first the trailing mold of the pair A and then the leading mold ofthe pair B, the table rotating in the direction indicated by the arrow.During this time the pair of molds C will be coming into position at thepouring station. As the first operator steps from the table at theconclusion of his pouring operation, .a second'operator will step intoposition between the pairs of molds B and C, and commence pouring firstin the trailing mold of the pair B and thereafter in the leading mold ofpair C. This will continue as the table rotates, each mold receiving itsmolten metal at substantially the same point in the rotation of thetable. This general point may be moved forwardly or backwardlv withrespect to the direction of rotation by arbitrarily changing theposition at which the pouring is commenc ed, the pouring station beinglong enough to permit such adjustment in accordance with the nature ofthe metal being utilized and the character and size of the castings.Experience has shown that capable operators will perform successivepouring steps in almost exactly the same time intervals, so that if thepouring is initially started at the same point, substantial uniformityis obtained. If desired, the ladles containing the molten-metal may besupported in known manner by an overhead track. v

As the filled molds leave the pouring station, they come to the openingstation at which means is provided for effecting the gradual automaticopening of the molds. This means comprises a pair of lower rods 20 and apair of upper rods 21. Both pairs of rods have their upper ends 22turned outwardly with respect to the table 2 and adjustably secured inthe upper ends of standards 23. These rods are all inclined generallydownwardly in the direction of rotation of the table, and divergeoutwardly. At their lower ends the rods 21 areadjustably secured instandards 24:, while the lower ends of the rods 20, which terminatesubstantially .in the plane of the table 2 are left free for tiallytimed relation to the pouring opera tion. The upper rods will engage theinner sides of the handles, and gradually swing the same downwardly asrequired for opening the molds, while the lower rods will tend to engagethe outer sides of the handles and prevent sudden dropping thereof andconsequent undue jarring of the molds or undue rapidity in the moldopening such as might injure the castings.

It is desirable that the apparatus shall be as nearly foolproof inoperation as possible, and it is with this in mind that the lower endsof the rods 20 are left free. It is possible that either by accident orintention a mold is opened at the pouring station, and accidentallyleftopen during travel to the opening station. It the' lower rods wererigidly secured at their lower ends, either the rods or the handleswould necessarily be damaged. By permitting these ends of the rods tofloat, however, they may move upwardly .freely during the passage of thehandles below the same, thus obviating possibility of damage to theapparatus.

As the molds leave the' opening station, they enter the dischargestation adjacent which stands an operator who by the use of tongs or thelike may readily remove the castings, which are supported at this timeon the pins where cores are utilized, or directly by the molds wherecores are not used.

Following the discharge station is a cleaning station at which means isprovided for eflectively cleaning the molds of any material which mayremain between the mold halves. This cleaning means may comprise a pairof cleaning heads 26 illustrated in detailin Figure 4. Each cleaninghead may consist of a plurality of discharge nozzles 27 terminating indifferent planes, and discharging at different angles whereby all partsof the mold cavities are subjected to a blast of a cleaningfluid, suchas air. The heads are preferably adjustably supported by suitablefittings 28 in the fluid supply pipes 29. By reason of thisconstruction, in the event the heads are accidentally engaged'by anyportion of the molds they may readily swing upwardly to inoperativeposition about the pipes 29 as an axis, thereby preventing possibilityof damage to the apparatus. The outer ends 30 of these pipes may beextended downwardly and supported in any desired manner to maintain thecleaning heads in the desired position. At their opposite ends the pipesmay be provided with control'valves 31 and 32, respectively, adaptedupon operation to first turn on and then off the supply" gagementbetween one projection and the' valve handle will turn on the fluid,While the engagement of the succeeding projection will turn it 011.

With the parts in position shown in Figure 1, the cleaning heads willboth be discharging fluid, the heads being in cooperative relation tothe molds of the pair H. This delivery of fluid from both heads willcontinue until the projection substantially opposite the trailing endofthe second mold of the pair H engages the valve 31, whereupon passage offluid from the head controlled thereby will cease, this mold passinginto cooperative relation to the head controlled by valve 32. As thesame projection reaches valve 32, fluid will be cut 011' from this head,both heads at this time being substantially in the space between thepairs of molds H and I. Continued rotation of the table will bring theleading mold of the pair I into cooperative'relation to the headcontrolled by valve 31, and at the same time bring the other projection33 of this pair into engagement with the valve 31 to open the same.Thereafter as the leading mold moves into position to embrace the headcontrolled by valve 32 and the trailing mold into position to embracethe head controlled by valve 31, said projection will open valve 32.This condition corresponds with that shown in Figure 1, and willcontinue until the projection substantially opposite the trailing end ofthe second mold of the pair I again successively closes the valves. Inthis manner the pressure supply of cooling fluid is conserved, butalways rendered automatically available when required.

As the molds leave the cleaning station they are ready for thepositioning of cores therein or on the pins 15, if cores are required,this operation being effected at the core-applying station, at whichstation they may also be inspected to make certain that all parts are inproper operating condition.

Upon passing from the core applying station the molds come to theclosing station at which there is provided means for automaticallyclosing the molds. This means comprises rods 34 illustrated in detail inFigure 3, these rods being inclined and converged'in the opposite mannerto that of the rods 20 and 21. At their lower ends the rods 34 areadjustably secured in standards 35 while at their upper ends they aremounted in standards 36 for sliding movement in opposition to springs 37the initial load on which may be adjustably varied b means of nuts 38.Additional supporting brackets 39 may be provided for the upper ends ofthese rods; I1: will be understood that the lower ends of the rodsterminate adjacent and substantially in the plane of the table 2,whereby the handles 19 readily pass thereover during rotation of thetable. As rotation continues, the handles are graduall swung upwardlyand inwardly to effect closing of the molds. Due to the practicaldifiiculties of having all of the handles occupy the same relativepositions to the molds when closed, the upper ends of the rods 34 arenormally slightly closer than the distance between handles 19, thesprings permitting yielding of the rods to accommodate the handles whileexerting a pressure suflicient to efiect the desired closing of themolds and locking in closed position.

At the present time it is customary to pay workmen on the piece basisfor castings produced, and where endless carriers are utilized, count isnormally kept by the use of brass checks placed on the molds by theworkmen, and collected by a special operator provided for that purpose.In accordance with the present invention, count may be automaticallykept by providing a counter 40 of any desired construction adapted to beoperated by the movement of one of the rods 34. This insures absolutecertainty of count and makes possible a reduction in the number ofoperators required. It will be apparent that the present apparatus lendsitself to the use of various forms of automatic counting mechanismseither cooperating with the, rods 34 or directly with the handles 19 onwhichmay be placed projections of different lengths cooperating withdiiferent'counters as may be desirable when a number of difierent typesof castings are being made on one table at the same time.

The closed molds are ready for the next pouring operation, and as theyleave the clos ing means they come to the pourlng station where theoperations previously referred are repeated.

' It will be apparent that any desired number of molds may be providedon one table, these molds being of any preferred construction andmounted as desired. In operation, however, the repetition casting in thesame molds tends to bring these molds up to a definite temperaturerange. By making successive pours while the molds are within thistemperature range, uniformity is insured as between successive castingsfrom the same molds. Thus, certain advantages of the present inventionarise from the provision of an installation comprising a plurality ofrepetition molds movable successively to a plurality of stations atdefinite time intervals,

I thereby establishing a general time relationship. between successiveoperations. 4

Other advantages of the invention arise from the provision of 'means forautomatis cally opening and closing the molds, as well as the means forinsuring cleaning of the molds preparatory to the application of cores,where necessary, and .prior to a succeeding pouring operation. 1

Still other advantages arise from the construction of the mold opening,cleaning and closing means making their operation substantiallyfoolproof, and from the use of rier, a plurality of groups of moldsthereon movable to open and closed positions, a group of cleaning meanscooperating with said carrier for cleaning the molds while in openposition a movable mountingfor each cleaning means of the group, rigidlymounted control valves for the cleaning means, and means on said carrierand below the molds adapted to render the individual cleaning means ofthe group successively and progressively operative and inoperative oncefor each mold group, substantially as described.

3. In a molding apparatus, a carrier, a

plurality of molds thereon arranged in groups to provide an operatorsplatform between adjacent groups of molds, means for operating saidcarrier, a plurality of cleaning heads cooperating with said carrier andadapted to simultaneously clean the molds of a predetermined group, amovable mounting for each cleaning head, and means for rendering saidcleaning heads operative and inoperative once for each moldgroup, saidmeans including a rigidly mounted valve for each cleaning head,substantially as .described.

4. In-.a molding apparatus, a carrier, a plurality of molds thereonarranged in groups to provide an operators platform between adjacentgroups of molds, means for operating said carrier, a plurality ofcleaning heads cooperating with said carrier and adapted to clean saidmolds, means projecting laterally from the carrier below the plane ofthe molds for rendering said cleaning heads operative and inoperative insuccession with each head in operation during the passage of an entiregroup, and valves rigidly mounted in the path of said projecting means,substantially as described.

5. In a molding apparatus, a movable carrier, a plurality of moldsthereon, and cleaning means cooperating with said carrier, said cleaningmeans being mounted for movement to inoperative position if engaged byone of said molds, substantiallyas described.

6. In a molding apparatus, a movable carrier, a plurality of openablemolds thereon, and inclined means yielding on opposite sides ofthe'molds cooperating with said carrier during movement thereof forperiodically opening said molds, substantially as described.

7 In a molding apparatus, a movable carrier, a plurality of moldsthereon operable about'horizontal axes, and means on opposite sides ofthe molds cooperating with said carrier during movement thereof forperiodically opening said molds and controlling the rate of openingmovement, substantially as de-'v rier, a plurality of openable moldsthereon,

and means cooperating with said carrier during movement thereof forperiodically opening said molds, said means comprising spaced rods onopposite sides of said carrier, substantially as described.

11. In a molding apparatus, a movable carrier, a plurality of openablemolds thereon, and means cooperating with said carrier during movementthereof for periodically opening said molds, said means comprisingspaced rods on opposite sides of said carrier, certain of said rodsbeing supported for floating movement, substantially as described.

12. In a molding apparatus, a movable carrier, a plurality of openablemolds thereon, yielding means cooperating with said carrier duringmovement thereof for successively closing said molds, and counting meanscooperating with said yielding means, substantially as described.

13. In a molding apparatus, a carrier, a plurality of molds mountedthereon operable about horizontal axes, means for moving said carrier tosuccessively bring the molds to a pouring station, an opening station,and a closing station, means at the opening station for swmging themoldparts downwardly for opening the molds, and means at the closing stationfor swinging the mold parts upwardly for closing said molds,substantially as described.

14. In a molding apparatus, a carrier, a plurality of molds mountedthereon operable about horizontal axes, means for moving said carrier tosuccessivelybring the molds to a pouring station, an opening station,and a closing station, means at the opening station for swinging themold parts downwardly for opening the molds, means at the closingstation for swinging the mold parts upwardly for closing said molds, andmeans intermediate the opening and closing stations for cleaning theopen molds, substantially as described.

15. In a molding apparatus, a rotating carrier, a plurality of moldsthereon, having laterally projecting opening and closing means,horizontal axes about which said molds are openable, and meanscooperating with said laterally projecting means for opening and closingsaid molds.

16. In a molding apparatus, a rotating carrier, a plurality of moldsthereon, having laterally projecting opening and closing means,horizontal axes about which said molds are openable, and meanscooperating with said laterally projecting means for opening andclosingsaid molds, said last mentioned means comprising inclinedoperating rods.

17 In a molding apparatus, a carrier, a plurality of molds mountedthereon in spaced groups to provide an operators platform betweenadjacent groups, and means for moving said carrier, said molds eachbeing openable upon axes substantially tangent to the path of movementof the molds to maintain the 1n hand.

y CLIFTON D. PETTIS.

